Scientists explore whether these so-called miracle obesity drugs could be repurposed to address conditions like dementia and alcohol dependence. This comes after recent studies hinted at the effectiveness of these drugs in tackling severe health issues.

Late-stage clinical trial data, published by Novo Nordisk last month, suggest that Wegovy weight loss injections led to a “significant reduction” in heart failure symptoms among at-risk patients. This finding followed the eagerly awaited “SELECT” study results by the Danish pharmaceutical company, revealing the drug’s role in reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes.

These developments mark a significant milestone as the company seeks to expand the perception of its product, sometimes referred to as a “beauty drug,” and researchers hope for positive news regarding other potential applications of these drugs.

“The results show that this drug may have health benefits beyond short-term effects,” said Christian Hendershot, Director of Clinical and Translational Research in Addiction Treatment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, via Zoom with CNBC.

Hendershot is among the researchers investigating whether the appetite-regulating mechanisms at play in weight loss drugs could be used to treat other conditions, such as alcohol and drug addiction.

The situation is sure to continue evolving, and we will keep you updated on further developments.

Source: CNBC.com